Golf Ball Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A golf ball cleaning device for on demand cleaning of golf balls includes a tube, which has a top that is open and a bottom that is closed. A cap is selectively engageable to the tube to close the top. The tube and the cap define an interior space. A plurality of scrubbing elements is engaged to the tube and is positioned in the interior space. A cleaning solution and a golf ball are insertable through the top into the tube, positioning a user to engage the cap to the tube and to shake the tube. The golf ball is motivated repeatedly across the plurality of scrubbing elements to clean the golf ball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to cleaning devices and more particularly pertains to a new cleaning device for on demand cleaning of golf balls. The present invention discloses a cleaning device comprising a tube to which a plurality of bristles are attached, wherein a cleaning solution and a golf ball can be positioned in the tube, a cap affixed, and the tube shaken to clean the golf ball

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to cleaning devices. Prior art cleaning devices for golf balls may comprise containers having scrubbing elements on their inner surfaces. Some of these cleaning devices are cylindrically shaped but require a plunger to motivate golf balls against the scrubbers. What is lacking in the prior art is a cleaning device comprising a tube to which a plurality of bristles are attached, wherein a cleaning solution and a golf ball can be positioned in the tube, a cap affixed, and the tube shaken to clean the golf ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tube, which has a top that is open and a bottom that is closed. A cap is selectively engageable to the tube to close the top. The tube and the cap define an interior space. A plurality of scrubbing elements is engaged to the tube and is positioned in the interior space. The top is configured for insertion of a cleaning solution and a golf ball, positioning a user to engage the cap to the tube and to shake the tube. The golf ball is motivated repeatedly across the plurality of scrubbing elements to clean the golf ball.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a golf ball cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new cleaning device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 , the golf ball cleaning device 10 generally comprises a tube 12 and a cap 14. The tube 12 has a top 16 that is open and a bottom 18 that is closed. The cap 14 is selectively engageable to the tube 12 to close the top 16 so that the tube 12 and the cap 14 define an interior space 20. The tube 12 is externally threaded proximate to the top 16. The cap 14 is internally threaded so that the cap 14 is selectively threadedly engageable to the tube 12 to close the top 16. The present invention anticipates the cap 14 being engageable to the tube 12 by other engagement means, such as, but not limited to, hinged clamping lids, snap attachment lids, and the like.

A plurality of nubs 22 may be engaged to and extends from an outer face 24 of the tube 12. The nubs 22 may be positioned proximate to the top 16 and the bottom 18 of the tube 12. The nubs 22 are configured to facilitate gripping of the tube 12 in a respective hand of the user.

A D-ring 26 is engaged to the cap 14. A fastener 28 is engaged to the D-ring 26 and is configured to selectively engage a substrate so that the tube 12 is removably engaged to the substrate, such as a golf cart, golf bag, belt, and the like. The fastener 28 may comprise a carabiner 30, as shown in FIG. 2 , or other fastening means, such as, but not limited to, clips, straps, magnets, and the like.

A plurality of scrubbing elements 32 is engaged to the tube 12 and is positioned in the interior space 20. The top 16 is configured for insertion of a cleaning solution 34, such as water, detergent solution, and the like, along with a golf ball 36, positioning a user to engage the cap 14 to the tube 12 and to shake the tube 12. The golf ball 36 is motivated repeatedly across the plurality of scrubbing elements 32 to clean the golf ball 36. The plurality of scrubbing elements 32 may comprise a plurality of bristles 38, as shown in FIG. 5 , or other scrubbing means, such as, but not limited to, pads, sponges, and the like.

Respective scrubbing elements 32 of the plurality of scrubbing elements 32 may be engaged to the bottom 18 of the tube 12. The respective scrubbing elements 32 thus are configured to at least partially absorb an impact from the golf ball 36 as the tube 12 is shaken.

As shown in FIG. 2 , a plurality of apertures 40 is positioned in the tube 12 and defines a plurality of struts 42, to which the plurality of scrubbing elements 32 is engaged. Each of a plurality of panels 44 is engaged to the tube 12 and extends across a respective aperture 40. The panels 44 are substantially transparent and thus are configured to allow viewing of the golf ball 36 in the tube 12.

The golf ball cleaning device 10 also may comprise a sleeve 46, which is selectively insertable into the tube 12. The sleeve 46 is porous and substantially rigid. The scrubbing elements 32 are engaged to the sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 is configured for insertion of the golf ball 36 to clean the golf ball 36 with the cap 14 attached to the tube 12. The user is positioned to remove the cap 14 and to extract the sleeve 46 and the golf ball 36 while retaining the cleaning solution 34 in the tube 12.

The sleeve 46 comprises an upper ring 48, a lower disc 50, and a plurality of bars 52. A plurality of holes 54 is positioned in the lower disc 50. Each bar 52 is engaged to and extends between the lower disc 50 and the upper ring 48. The plurality of scrubbing elements 32 is engaged to an inner facet 56 of each bar. The sleeve 46 is configured for insertion of the golf ball 36 to clean the golf ball 36 with the cap 14 attached to the tube 12. The user is positioned to remove the cap 14 and to extract the sleeve 46 and the golf ball 36 while retaining the cleaning solution 34 in the tube 12.

A cutout 58 is positioned in the upper ring 48 so that the upper ring 48 is selectively compressible, facilitating its insertion into the tube 12. Respective scrubbing elements 32 of the plurality of scrubbing elements 32 are engaged to the lower disc 50. The respective scrubbing elements 32 are configured to at least partially absorb an impact from the golf ball 36 as the tube 12 is shaken.

A pull ring 60 is engaged to and extends from the upper ring 48. The pull ring 60 is configured for insertion of a digit of a respective hand of the user, positioning the user to extract the sleeve 46 and the golf ball 36 from the tube 12.

Each aperture 40 extends from proximate to the top 16 to proximate to the bottom 18 of the tube 12. Each of a plurality of channels 62 from the top 16, along an associated strut 42, to proximate to the bottom 18, as shown in FIG. 5 . The channel 62 is positioned for insertion of an outer facet 74 of a respective bar 52 as the sleeve 46 is inserted into the tube 12. Openings 76 between the bars 52 thus are aligned with the apertures 40 and the sleeve 46 is nonrotatable within the tube 12.

The golf ball cleaning device 10 also may comprise a cylinder 64. The cylinder 64 has an upper end 66 and a lower end 68. The cylinder 64 is externally threaded proximate to the upper end 66 so that the cap 14 is selectively threadedly engageable to the cylinder 64. A cavity 70 extends into the upper end 66 of the cylinder 64 and is configured for positioning of a cleaning agent, such as a detergent. The user is positioned to threadedly engage the cap 14 to the cylinder 64 to retain the cleaning agent in the cavity 70. A recess 72 extends into a lower end 68 of the cylinder 64. The recess 72 is threaded so that the cylinder 64 is selectively threadedly engageable to the tube 12 to close the top 16.

Respective scrubbing elements 32 of the plurality of scrubbing elements 32 may be engaged to the cylinder 64 and positioned in the recess 72. The respective scrubbing elements 32 are configured to at least partially absorb an impact from the golf ball 36 as the tube 12 is shaken.

In use, the sleeve 46 and the cleaning solution 34 are positioned in the tube 12. Either the cap 14 or the cylinder 64 with the cap 14 attached is engaged to the tube 12 to close the top 16. The fastener 28 then is affixed to a substrate so that the golf ball cleaning device 10 is readily available as needed. When cleaning of a golf ball 36 is required, the cap 14 or the cylinder 64 is rotated to remove it from the tube 12 and the golf ball 36 is inserted into the tube 12. The cap 14 or the cylinder 64 then is reattached and the tube 12 is shaken to motivate the golf ball 36 back and forth along the bristles 38. Confirmation of cleaning can be obtained by viewing the golf ball 36 through the panels 44. The cap 14 or the cylinder 64 is again detached. The sleeve 46 and golf ball 36 are extracted from the tube 12 by pulling on the pull ring 60.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A golf ball cleaning device comprising: a tube having a top and a bottom, the top being open and the bottom being closed; a cap selectively engageable to the tube for closing the top, such that the tube and the cap define an interior space; and a plurality of scrubbing elements engaged to of the tube and positioned in the interior space, wherein the top is configured for insertion of a cleaning solution and a golf ball, positioning a user for engaging the cap to the tube and for shaking the tube, such that the golf ball is motivated repeatedly across the plurality of scrubbing elements, for cleaning the golf ball.
 2. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein: the tube is externally threaded proximate to the top; and the cap is internally threaded, such that the cap is selectively threadedly engageable to the tube for closing the top.
 3. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of scrubbing elements comprises a plurality of bristles.
 4. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein respective scrubbing elements of the plurality of scrubbing elements are engaged to the bottom of the tube, wherein the respective scrubbing elements are configured for at least partially absorbing an impact from the golf ball as the tube is shaken.
 5. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, further including: a plurality of apertures positioned in the tube defining a plurality of struts; the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to the struts; and a plurality of panels, each panel being engaged to the tube and extending across a respective aperture, the panels being substantially transparent, wherein the panels are configured for viewing of the golf ball in the tube.
 6. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, further including a sleeve selectively insertable into the tube, the sleeve being substantially rigid, the scrubbing elements being engaged to the sleeve, the sleeve being porous, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the golf ball, positioning the user for extracting the sleeve and the golf ball while retaining the cleaning solution in the tube.
 7. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 5, further including a sleeve selectively insertable into the tube, the sleeve being substantially rigid, the sleeve comprising: an upper ring; a lower disc; a plurality of holes being positioned in the lower disc; and a plurality of bars engaged to and extending between the lower disc and the upper ring, the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to an inner facet of each bar, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the golf ball, positioning the user for extracting the sleeve and the golf ball while retaining the cleaning solution in the tube.
 8. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 7, further including a cutout positioned in the upper ring, such that the upper ring is selectively compressible.
 9. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 7, wherein respective scrubbing elements of the plurality of scrubbing elements are engaged to the lower disc, wherein the respective scrubbing elements are configured for at least partially absorbing an impact from the golf ball as the tube is shaken.
 10. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 7, further including a pull ring engaged to and extending from the upper ring, wherein the pull ring is configured for insertion of a digit of a respective hand of the user, positioning the user for extracting the sleeve and the golf ball from the tube.
 11. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 7, further including: each aperture extending from proximate to the top to proximate to the bottom of the tube; and a plurality of channels, each channel extending from the top, along an associated strut, to proximate to the bottom, such that the channel is positioned for insertion of an outer facet of a respective bar as the sleeve is inserted into the tube, such that openings between the bars are aligned with the apertures and such that the sleeve is nonrotatable within the tube.
 12. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 2, further including: a cylinder, the cylinder having an upper end and a lower end, the cylinder being externally threaded proximate to the upper end, such that the cap is selectively threadedly engageable to the cylinder; a cavity extending into the upper end of the cylinder, wherein the cavity is configured for positioning of a cleaning agent, positioning the user for threadedly engaging the cap to the cylinder for retaining the cleaning agent in the cavity; and a recess extending into a lower end of the cylinder, the recess being threaded, such that the cylinder is selectively threadedly engageable to the tube for closing the top.
 13. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 12, further including respective scrubbing elements of the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to the cylinder and positioned in the recess, wherein the respective scrubbing elements are configured for at least partially absorbing an impact from the golf ball as the tube is shaken.
 14. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, further including a plurality of nubs engaged to and extending from an outer face of the tube, the nubs being positioned proximate to the top and the bottom of the tube, wherein the nubs are configured for facilitating gripping of the tube in a respective hand of the user.
 15. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 1, further including: a D-ring engaged to the cap; and a fastener engaged to the D-ring and being configured for selectively engaging a substrate, such the tube is removably engaged to the substrate.
 16. The golf ball cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the fastener comprises a carabiner.
 17. A golf ball cleaning system comprising: a tube having a top and a bottom, the top being open and the bottom being closed; a plurality of scrubbing elements engaged to and positioned within the tube; a cleaning solution positioned in the tube; a golf ball positioned in the tube; and a cap selectively engageable to the tube for closing the top, such that the tube and the cap define an interior space, wherein the tube is configured for grasping in a hand of a user, positioning the user and for shaking the tube, such that the golf ball is motivated repeatedly across the plurality of scrubbing elements, for cleaning the golf ball.
 18. A golf ball cleaning device comprising: a tube having a top and a bottom, the top being open and the bottom being closed, the tube being externally threaded proximate to the top; a cap selectively engageable to the tube for closing the top, such that the tube and the cap define an interior space, the cap being internally threaded, such that the cap is selectively threadedly engageable to the tube for closing the top; a plurality of scrubbing elements engaged to of the tube and positioned in the interior space, wherein the top is configured for insertion of a cleaning solution and a golf ball, positioning a user for engaging the cap to the tube and for shaking the tube, such that the golf ball is motivated repeatedly across the plurality of scrubbing elements, for cleaning the golf ball, the plurality of scrubbing elements comprising a plurality of bristles, respective scrubbing elements of the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to the bottom of the tube, wherein the respective scrubbing elements are configured for at least partially absorbing an impact from the golf ball as the tube is shaken; a plurality of apertures positioned in the tube defining a plurality of struts, the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to the struts, each aperture extending from proximate to the top to proximate to the bottom of the tube; a plurality of panels, each panel being engaged to the tube and extending across a respective aperture, the panels being substantially transparent, wherein the panels are configured for viewing of the golf ball in the tube; a sleeve selectively insertable into the tube, the sleeve being substantially rigid, the scrubbing elements being engaged to the sleeve, the sleeve being porous, wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion of the golf ball, positioning the user for extracting the sleeve and the golf ball while retaining the cleaning solution in the tube, the sleeve comprising: an upper ring, a cutout positioned in the upper ring, such that the upper ring is selectively compressible, a lower disc, respective scrubbing elements of the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to the lower disc, wherein the respective scrubbing elements are configured for at least partially absorbing an impact from the golf ball as the tube is shaken, a plurality of holes being positioned in the lower disc, a plurality of bars engaged to and extending between the lower disc and the upper ring, the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to an inner facet of each bar, and a pull ring engaged to and extending from the upper ring, wherein the pull ring is configured for insertion of a digit of a respective hand of the user, positioning the user for extracting the sleeve and the golf ball from the tube; a plurality of channels, each channel extending from the top, along an associated strut, to proximate to the bottom, such that the channel is positioned for insertion of an outer facet of a respective bar as the sleeve is inserted into the tube, such that openings between the bars are aligned with the apertures and such that the sleeve is nonrotatable within the tube; a cylinder, the cylinder having an upper end and a lower end, the cylinder being externally threaded proximate to the upper end, such that the cap is selectively threadedly engageable to the cylinder; a cavity extending into the upper end of the cylinder, wherein the cavity is configured for positioning of a cleaning agent, positioning the user for threadedly engaging the cap to the cylinder for retaining the cleaning agent in the cavity; a recess extending into a lower end of the cylinder, the recess being threaded, such that the cylinder is selectively threadedly engageable to the tube for closing the top, respective scrubbing elements of the plurality of scrubbing elements being engaged to the cylinder and positioned in the recess, wherein the respective scrubbing elements are configured for at least partially absorbing an impact from the golf ball as the tube is shaken; a plurality of nubs engaged to and extending from an outer face of the tube, the nubs being positioned proximate to the top and the bottom of the tube, wherein the nubs are configured for facilitating gripping of the tube in a respective hand of the user; a D-ring engaged to the cap; and a fastener engaged to the D-ring and being configured for selectively engaging a substrate, such the tube is removably engaged to the substrate, the fastener comprising a carabiner. 